Intricate Lines From A Broken Hymn [Chapter 8 (1/2)]
Chapter Title: Thorny Vines
Pairing: Kai/Krystal
Rating: PG
Summary: Soojung lives in a world where everything is decided by a single entity. This year, she turns eighteen and is now required to enter The Ceremony of Transition where she meets the people who will change her life forever.
Chapter 8: Thorny Vines
_____________________________________________________
Soojung cannot concentrate on the attacks being thrown by the instructor. She can already feel a huge bruise forming on her left arm, the one which seems to be her instructor’s favorite target today. Soojung moves in, keeping her head low and quickly aiming a punch directly at the instructor’s face, it hits the instructor’s cheek and Soojung smiles to herself, but her victory is short because the instructor quickly counters by turning and hitting Soojung’s windpipe with a knifehand, knocking the air out of Soojung and making her take a step backward. The instructor follows her by planting a strong punch in her stomach. The pain makes Soojung bend forward but she is only given a second to breathe before the instructor attacks her again by hitting the back of Soojung’s head with a palm.
Soojung falls down to the ground panting, feeling very close to fainting. The spotless floor gives her a full view of how messy she looks, and the bruises on her face. Soojung pushes herself off the floor only to fall down again a moment later because of a kick to her side. The instructor tries to land a kick on her again but Soojung sees this so she rolls to the side before moving up into a crouch and blocking her instructor’s next kick with her arms. Soojung catches the instructor’s leg with her hands and pulls it, making the instructor lose her balance. Soojung takes this opportunity to stand up and using whatever’s left of her energy to throw a kick towards the instructor’s face. But the instructor only flicks this off with her arm, and with a menacing smile, the older woman stands up and attacks Soojung.
The sparring ends with a coughing and wheezing Soojung crouched down on the floor. She hears footsteps so she turns her head to the side. White studded boots greet her, and she already knows that these are her instructor’s feet. Her body has been quite acquainted with those boots earlier.
“You’re getting better,” The instructor says. “You successfully landed a hit on me today.”
“Compared to all the ones I got from you…” Soojung groans. “There’s no competition.”
“I never said there was a competition.” The instructor scoffs. “I was merely praising you.”
“Well, thanks.” Soojung mutters before deciding that she doesn’t feel like throwing up on the white pristine floor anymore, and pushes herself off the floor.
She looks up at the older woman and sure enough there is a small bruise forming on one of her cheeks. This makes Soojung smile.
The instructor puts down a bottle of water next to Soojung’s knee.
“You were quite distracted earlier.” She says, intrigued. “And you have a scheduled meeting with the doctor later. Will you be fine?”
Soojung sighs, thinking about Kahi and Sehun.
“Maybe.”
_____________________________________________________
The air in the room is cold and heavy. Not literally, but in a way that makes Soojung fidget ever minute, eyes glancing towards the boy hunched over a book on the other side of the room. Sehun hasn’t said a word to her ever since the moment she arrived, but Soojung can see his eyes moving away from the book to where Soojung is seated. Sometimes when they have contact, Sehun would even glare at her.
“So childish.” Soojung mutters to herself.
Kahi then enters the room. She quickly situates herself in the middle of the room where two huge figures covered in white cloth stands. Kahi pulls the off one by one, revealing two machines that are quite familiar with Soojung.
“I’ve seen those before.” Soojung says, standing up and walking towards the machines so she can see them up close.
“Of course you have.” Kahi confirms. “Hannan used a similar machine for the Transition Ceremony.
Soojung inspects the machines. They are two metal chairs with leather seats, each of its arms have straps and a long line of syringes ready to pop out to inject whoever’s arm will be placed on top of them with whatever chemical they are filled with.
“They look scarier than how I remember them to be.” Soojung comments. “They only injected us with one syringe before.”
“And that is where Hannan went wrong.” Kahi says. “They used a still unfinished prototype. That wasn’t enough to protect your mind from the effects of the machine.”
“Are you saying you completed the project?” Sehun speaks for the first time.
“It was mine to begin with.” Kahi shrugs. “Some incompetent idiots decided to take over while I was gone, but they didn’t have enough of the original plan to help them so they made their own version.”
Kahi presses something on her computer and the two machines boots into life.
”The original plan was for this machine to help humans strengthen their mind’s defense.” Kahi gives us a meaningful look. “It was made for the two of you.”
“And how will it help us strengthen our mind?” Soojung asks. “By putting us into hallucinations?”
“In a way.” Kahi answers. “I’ve explained to the two of you yesterday how the codes inside you heads are being defended by a password, right?”
Soojung and Sehun both nod silently at this.
“This time we will be creating a second level of defense for it.” Kahi continues. “Another set of barrier created by opening a small part of your mind and making it attack whoever it is that opened the code in the wrong way.”
“I’m confused.” Soojung admits and Kahi smiles fondly at her.
“Basically, this part of your mind will take over your whole body and physically attack the enemy.” Kahi says, simply.
“Attack the enemy.” Soojung deadpans.
“The physical trainings you’re receiving are for preparation for this.” Kahi says. “Don’t worry, we know what we are doing.”
“You’re going to turn us into mindless soldiers.” Sehun says, voice curt. “That was the plan?”
“It is for your protection.” Kahi says, softly but definite.
“Not us,” Sehun scoffs, while Soojung shakes her head in mild disbelief. “It’s for the protection of the codes.”
“Sehun, please.” Kahi pleads.
Sehun turns his head, pointedly ignoring his mother. Soojung sighs before sitting on one of the metal chairs.
“Let’s just get this over with.” Soojung says. “Sit down Sehun.”
“They’re not even giving us a choice!” Sehun exclaims, clearly agitated.
Soojung rolls her eyes. “That’s because they don’t have a choice too.”
“I don’t want to do this.” Sehun murmurs.
“I don’t want to do this either, Sehun.” Soojung says, exasperated. “But if we don’t then we won’t have anything to protect ourselves when Hannan decides that they want whatever’s inside our heads.”
Sehun glares at Soojung for a moment, carefully thinking about her words. Mulling over the pros and cons, like the Kaptan native that he is. With a defeated sigh, Sehun plops himself on the second chair.
“Has this been tested before?” Sehun grumbles.
“No.” Kahi breathes out, before quickly following up her words. “But don’t worry, it’s safe.”
She mouths a silent ‘thank you’ towards Soojung who only gives her a tight smile. Kahi begins to start the procedure by strapping each of their arms on the chairs. She carefully attaches a couple of colorful wires on their temples and on their chests, before going back to her computer and pressing a few keys.
“This will be ready in a few seconds.” Kahi says. She hands them visors similar to the ones they used in Hannan. “Wear these.”
Soojung looks at Sehun, watching if the boy would do as the doctor says. Sehun frowns at her, but obliges without a word. Soojung does the same, exhaling as she rests her head on the headrest of the chair. The temporary blindness is just as disconcerting as the first time Soojung experienced it. Soojung feels a light tap on her arm before hearing Kahi’s voice.
“Good luck.”
That is the only warning given to her before he procedure starts. Soojung lets out a short scream of pain when she feels needles pricking her skin all at the same time, at the back of her mind she’s sure she is hearing Sehun doing the same thing. Then there’s the feeling of the chemicals entering her veins, slowly and painfully travelling through her body.The fluid feels like molten lava slowly burning Soojung’s insides. She couldn’t even move anymore, the only thing she can do is scream for it to stop.
It seems like forever until the pain subsides, and by then Soojung’s throat is raw from screaming. She tries to move again but it is fruitless. It is like she is floating in an endless space. For a while there is nothing, until Soojung suddenly feels like she is standing up. Her sight fogs up, before slowly clearing and revealing her the inside of a greenhouse. Soojung whirls around to look at her surroundings. The plants are withered and the pathway messy, but Soojung can attest that this is her mother’s greenhouse, only, she isn’t supposed to be in Sinukwan right now.
“How did I get here?” Soojung murmurs to herself.
She notices a woman crouched down in the corner, there’s a tree blocking the sun from where she is, so the woman is deep in the shadows. She’s carefully snipping dead leaves from one bush, while humming a sad tune. Soojung slowly approaches her, careful not to step on any of the plants, even though most of them are already dead.
“Mom?” Soojung calls out. “Is that you?”
“What do you want Soojung?” The woman rasps.
Soojung frowns. “What happened here? Why are the plants withered?”
The woman chuckles airily. “Don’t worry about them. They’ll come back again.”
“Right.” Soojung says, moving to stand behind the woman. “Mom, I found dad and Sooyeon.”
The woman freezes. “And?”
“They’re in Kaptan, mom.” Soojung says, excitedly. “They’re safe. You can come with me and I’ll take you to them.”
The woman quickly puts down her shears before standing up briskly. She stomps across the room, walking over leaves and twigs.
“Mom?” Sooung says.
“Don’t call me that!” The woman shrieks.
Soojung jumps at the sound. This is the only time Soojung hears her speak that loud.
“I’m sorry.” Soojung murmurs. “I know I’m not really your daughter but--”
The woman turns around to face Soojung. This time Soojung takes her time to see what the woman really looks like. The woman’s hair is wrapped around in a messy bun are blonde and not the deep brown that Soojung is used to. The lines of the woman’s eyes are lined with thick kohl and her mouth red as the petals of a rose. The woman gives her a menacing smile and Soojung had to step back when she realizes who it is.
“Doctor Jinah.” Soojung gasps. She feels something wrapping around her ankles, and she looks down to find vines twisting themselves up her legs, preventing her from moving away.
“You just revealed vital information for us, Soojung.” Jinah says as she walks back to where Soojung stands. “Thank you, dear.”
“No.” Soojung’s face darkens. “This can’t be happening.”
The vines continue to cover Soojung’s body, the thorns making scratches across her skin and drawing blood. Soojung groans in pain when she falls to her side, and the thorns reach her face.
“This will be your end Soojung.” Jinah says, laughing. “Buried beneath the soil of your beloved region.”
Soojung cries for help, calling out names of people who work for their family’s vineyard, wishing that one of them would hear her pleas and help her. But none of them come, Soojung’s cries turns into panicked sobs.
“Help me, help, please, help me, please…” Soojung chants.
Not far away she can hear Jinah’s continued laughter, then there’s the smell of smoke, as fire slowly make its way to where Soojung lies.
“No.. no please…”
The fire reaches Soojung’s feet, and it doesn’t take long before it engulfs her whole body. Soojung screams as she feels her skin melt under the heat. There is so much pain, and Soojung wishes so hard for it to just disappear. She even wishes to die, if that’s what has to happen for the pain to stop. She screams again and again, asking for death. Beseeching whoever it is listening to end her suffering.
Soojung screams one last time, and then there’s nothing.
_____________________________________________________
next
Pairing: Kai/Krystal
Rating: PG
Summary: Soojung lives in a world where everything is decided by a single entity. This year, she turns eighteen and is now required to enter The Ceremony of Transition where she meets the people who will change her life forever.
Chapter 8: Thorny Vines
_____________________________________________________
Soojung cannot concentrate on the attacks being thrown by the instructor. She can already feel a huge bruise forming on her left arm, the one which seems to be her instructor’s favorite target today. Soojung moves in, keeping her head low and quickly aiming a punch directly at the instructor’s face, it hits the instructor’s cheek and Soojung smiles to herself, but her victory is short because the instructor quickly counters by turning and hitting Soojung’s windpipe with a knifehand, knocking the air out of Soojung and making her take a step backward. The instructor follows her by planting a strong punch in her stomach. The pain makes Soojung bend forward but she is only given a second to breathe before the instructor attacks her again by hitting the back of Soojung’s head with a palm.
Soojung falls down to the ground panting, feeling very close to fainting. The spotless floor gives her a full view of how messy she looks, and the bruises on her face. Soojung pushes herself off the floor only to fall down again a moment later because of a kick to her side. The instructor tries to land a kick on her again but Soojung sees this so she rolls to the side before moving up into a crouch and blocking her instructor’s next kick with her arms. Soojung catches the instructor’s leg with her hands and pulls it, making the instructor lose her balance. Soojung takes this opportunity to stand up and using whatever’s left of her energy to throw a kick towards the instructor’s face. But the instructor only flicks this off with her arm, and with a menacing smile, the older woman stands up and attacks Soojung.
The sparring ends with a coughing and wheezing Soojung crouched down on the floor. She hears footsteps so she turns her head to the side. White studded boots greet her, and she already knows that these are her instructor’s feet. Her body has been quite acquainted with those boots earlier.
“You’re getting better,” The instructor says. “You successfully landed a hit on me today.”
“Compared to all the ones I got from you…” Soojung groans. “There’s no competition.”
“I never said there was a competition.” The instructor scoffs. “I was merely praising you.”
“Well, thanks.” Soojung mutters before deciding that she doesn’t feel like throwing up on the white pristine floor anymore, and pushes herself off the floor.
She looks up at the older woman and sure enough there is a small bruise forming on one of her cheeks. This makes Soojung smile.
The instructor puts down a bottle of water next to Soojung’s knee.
“You were quite distracted earlier.” She says, intrigued. “And you have a scheduled meeting with the doctor later. Will you be fine?”
Soojung sighs, thinking about Kahi and Sehun.
“Maybe.”
_____________________________________________________
The air in the room is cold and heavy. Not literally, but in a way that makes Soojung fidget ever minute, eyes glancing towards the boy hunched over a book on the other side of the room. Sehun hasn’t said a word to her ever since the moment she arrived, but Soojung can see his eyes moving away from the book to where Soojung is seated. Sometimes when they have contact, Sehun would even glare at her.
“So childish.” Soojung mutters to herself.
Kahi then enters the room. She quickly situates herself in the middle of the room where two huge figures covered in white cloth stands. Kahi pulls the off one by one, revealing two machines that are quite familiar with Soojung.
“I’ve seen those before.” Soojung says, standing up and walking towards the machines so she can see them up close.
“Of course you have.” Kahi confirms. “Hannan used a similar machine for the Transition Ceremony.
Soojung inspects the machines. They are two metal chairs with leather seats, each of its arms have straps and a long line of syringes ready to pop out to inject whoever’s arm will be placed on top of them with whatever chemical they are filled with.
“They look scarier than how I remember them to be.” Soojung comments. “They only injected us with one syringe before.”
“And that is where Hannan went wrong.” Kahi says. “They used a still unfinished prototype. That wasn’t enough to protect your mind from the effects of the machine.”
“Are you saying you completed the project?” Sehun speaks for the first time.
“It was mine to begin with.” Kahi shrugs. “Some incompetent idiots decided to take over while I was gone, but they didn’t have enough of the original plan to help them so they made their own version.”
Kahi presses something on her computer and the two machines boots into life.
”The original plan was for this machine to help humans strengthen their mind’s defense.” Kahi gives us a meaningful look. “It was made for the two of you.”
“And how will it help us strengthen our mind?” Soojung asks. “By putting us into hallucinations?”
“In a way.” Kahi answers. “I’ve explained to the two of you yesterday how the codes inside you heads are being defended by a password, right?”
Soojung and Sehun both nod silently at this.
“This time we will be creating a second level of defense for it.” Kahi continues. “Another set of barrier created by opening a small part of your mind and making it attack whoever it is that opened the code in the wrong way.”
“I’m confused.” Soojung admits and Kahi smiles fondly at her.
“Basically, this part of your mind will take over your whole body and physically attack the enemy.” Kahi says, simply.
“Attack the enemy.” Soojung deadpans.
“The physical trainings you’re receiving are for preparation for this.” Kahi says. “Don’t worry, we know what we are doing.”
“You’re going to turn us into mindless soldiers.” Sehun says, voice curt. “That was the plan?”
“It is for your protection.” Kahi says, softly but definite.
“Not us,” Sehun scoffs, while Soojung shakes her head in mild disbelief. “It’s for the protection of the codes.”
“Sehun, please.” Kahi pleads.
Sehun turns his head, pointedly ignoring his mother. Soojung sighs before sitting on one of the metal chairs.
“Let’s just get this over with.” Soojung says. “Sit down Sehun.”
“They’re not even giving us a choice!” Sehun exclaims, clearly agitated.
Soojung rolls her eyes. “That’s because they don’t have a choice too.”
“I don’t want to do this.” Sehun murmurs.
“I don’t want to do this either, Sehun.” Soojung says, exasperated. “But if we don’t then we won’t have anything to protect ourselves when Hannan decides that they want whatever’s inside our heads.”
Sehun glares at Soojung for a moment, carefully thinking about her words. Mulling over the pros and cons, like the Kaptan native that he is. With a defeated sigh, Sehun plops himself on the second chair.
“Has this been tested before?” Sehun grumbles.
“No.” Kahi breathes out, before quickly following up her words. “But don’t worry, it’s safe.”
She mouths a silent ‘thank you’ towards Soojung who only gives her a tight smile. Kahi begins to start the procedure by strapping each of their arms on the chairs. She carefully attaches a couple of colorful wires on their temples and on their chests, before going back to her computer and pressing a few keys.
“This will be ready in a few seconds.” Kahi says. She hands them visors similar to the ones they used in Hannan. “Wear these.”
Soojung looks at Sehun, watching if the boy would do as the doctor says. Sehun frowns at her, but obliges without a word. Soojung does the same, exhaling as she rests her head on the headrest of the chair. The temporary blindness is just as disconcerting as the first time Soojung experienced it. Soojung feels a light tap on her arm before hearing Kahi’s voice.
“Good luck.”
That is the only warning given to her before he procedure starts. Soojung lets out a short scream of pain when she feels needles pricking her skin all at the same time, at the back of her mind she’s sure she is hearing Sehun doing the same thing. Then there’s the feeling of the chemicals entering her veins, slowly and painfully travelling through her body.The fluid feels like molten lava slowly burning Soojung’s insides. She couldn’t even move anymore, the only thing she can do is scream for it to stop.
It seems like forever until the pain subsides, and by then Soojung’s throat is raw from screaming. She tries to move again but it is fruitless. It is like she is floating in an endless space. For a while there is nothing, until Soojung suddenly feels like she is standing up. Her sight fogs up, before slowly clearing and revealing her the inside of a greenhouse. Soojung whirls around to look at her surroundings. The plants are withered and the pathway messy, but Soojung can attest that this is her mother’s greenhouse, only, she isn’t supposed to be in Sinukwan right now.
“How did I get here?” Soojung murmurs to herself.
She notices a woman crouched down in the corner, there’s a tree blocking the sun from where she is, so the woman is deep in the shadows. She’s carefully snipping dead leaves from one bush, while humming a sad tune. Soojung slowly approaches her, careful not to step on any of the plants, even though most of them are already dead.
“Mom?” Soojung calls out. “Is that you?”
“What do you want Soojung?” The woman rasps.
Soojung frowns. “What happened here? Why are the plants withered?”
The woman chuckles airily. “Don’t worry about them. They’ll come back again.”
“Right.” Soojung says, moving to stand behind the woman. “Mom, I found dad and Sooyeon.”
The woman freezes. “And?”
“They’re in Kaptan, mom.” Soojung says, excitedly. “They’re safe. You can come with me and I’ll take you to them.”
The woman quickly puts down her shears before standing up briskly. She stomps across the room, walking over leaves and twigs.
“Mom?” Sooung says.
“Don’t call me that!” The woman shrieks.
Soojung jumps at the sound. This is the only time Soojung hears her speak that loud.
“I’m sorry.” Soojung murmurs. “I know I’m not really your daughter but--”
The woman turns around to face Soojung. This time Soojung takes her time to see what the woman really looks like. The woman’s hair is wrapped around in a messy bun are blonde and not the deep brown that Soojung is used to. The lines of the woman’s eyes are lined with thick kohl and her mouth red as the petals of a rose. The woman gives her a menacing smile and Soojung had to step back when she realizes who it is.
“Doctor Jinah.” Soojung gasps. She feels something wrapping around her ankles, and she looks down to find vines twisting themselves up her legs, preventing her from moving away.
“You just revealed vital information for us, Soojung.” Jinah says as she walks back to where Soojung stands. “Thank you, dear.”
“No.” Soojung’s face darkens. “This can’t be happening.”
The vines continue to cover Soojung’s body, the thorns making scratches across her skin and drawing blood. Soojung groans in pain when she falls to her side, and the thorns reach her face.
“This will be your end Soojung.” Jinah says, laughing. “Buried beneath the soil of your beloved region.”
Soojung cries for help, calling out names of people who work for their family’s vineyard, wishing that one of them would hear her pleas and help her. But none of them come, Soojung’s cries turns into panicked sobs.
“Help me, help, please, help me, please…” Soojung chants.
Not far away she can hear Jinah’s continued laughter, then there’s the smell of smoke, as fire slowly make its way to where Soojung lies.
“No.. no please…”
The fire reaches Soojung’s feet, and it doesn’t take long before it engulfs her whole body. Soojung screams as she feels her skin melt under the heat. There is so much pain, and Soojung wishes so hard for it to just disappear. She even wishes to die, if that’s what has to happen for the pain to stop. She screams again and again, asking for death. Beseeching whoever it is listening to end her suffering.
Soojung screams one last time, and then there’s nothing.
_____________________________________________________
next